France pledged €24,000,000 to the PA
the day after PA celebrated release
of terrorist who killed French tourist

PA minister presented murderer of French tourist
with honorary plaque

PA official: "Follow in the footsteps of those
who sacrificed for freedom and independence...
the heroes' resolve will teach us all a lesson
in resolve and giving"

Fatah member of PA Parliament:
Released prisoners are "great heroes"

by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik

In August 2013, Israel agreed to release 104 Palestinian prisoners, which was the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations. Among the released prisoners are terrorists who have murdered civilians.

Khaled Asakra was one of the 26 prisoners who were released in the first group. Asakra was serving a life sentence for the murder of a 64 year-old French tourist, Annie Ley, whom he stabbed and killed in 1991.

PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Karake visited terrorist Asakra upon his release and presented him with an honorary plaque, which bears the PA symbol.

The day after the release of the terrorist who murdered a French citizen, the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius signed an agreement with PA Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah granting a total of "24 million Euros" in aid from France to the PA. "€9,000,000 are direct aid to the Palestinian treasury," the official PA daily reported.

Participating in an event celebrating the release of the murderer were Deputy Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Ziad Abu Ein and Bethlehem District Governor Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel. "We rejoice in their freedom," announced Deputy Minister Ziad Abu Ein.

"The prisoners' determination and resolve in the prisons charge us with a new responsibility, to follow in the footsteps of those who sacrificed for freedom and independence," and added: "Perhaps the heroes' resolve will teach us all a lesson in resolve and giving."

"In the name of the Fatah faction in Parliament," Fatah MP Muhammad Al-Laham "sent greetings to the most veteran released prisoner of the Bethlehem District and described the released [prisoners] as great heroes," the official PA daily reported.

The terrorist himself characterized Israel's release of the prisoners as "a national celebration and a genuine Palestinian achievement, the likes of which hasn't been [seen] for years." He also added that "this is the first time since [the] Oslo [Accords] that people are released who according to Israel's definition have blood on their hands, and we thank the Palestinian leadership for this. I believe this is a great achievement."

A few years ago a released prisoner described Asakra's terror attack, justifying his murder of the French tourist. The story appeared on the independent website of the Prisoners' Center for Studies.

"The Story of the Hero's Operation (i.e., terror attack) - Khaled Asakra - Abu Muhammad - by released prisoner Raafat Hamdouna"
"The Gulf War broke out between Baghdad and a coalition made up of the Western world, Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. During the war, land, air and naval forces used all kinds of weapons of [mass] destruction against Iraq's women and children. They carried out massacre after massacre, burned everything, demolished bridges and houses, and killed women, children and elderly people. The Palestinian people were furious over what was being done to their brothers in Iraq...
The hero [Khaled Asakra] decided to stand beside his brothers in a heroic operation (i.e., terror attack) that would convey the Palestinian people's regrets to the women, children and elderly people of Iraq, for its inability to assist, and with this he avenged the blood of the Iraqi Martyrs (Shahids).
Abu Muhammad [Khaled Asakra] left his home in Al-Ubeidiya in April 1991, immediately after the Gulf War ended, and went to work at a Bethlehem tourist restaurant. While he was at work, a 45 year-old French tourist entered the restaurant. Khaled took a knife from the kitchen and waited for his chance. He was 19. Suddenly, the tourist went down to wash her hands after the meal. Khaled went in after her and stabbed her several times in her back and chest until she fell to the ground, a bleeding corpse. The hero fled the place and was shortly arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment."

[The Prisoners' Center for Studies, March 9, 2007, www.alasra.ps]

As mentioned, terrorist Asakra and all other Palestinian terrorist prisoners and released terrorists, receive a salary from the PA budget, which just received money from the French government.

PMW documents the policy of the PA and Fatah to praise and glorify terrorists.

The following are longer excerpts of the reports mentioned above:

Headline: "[PA Prime Minister Rami] Hamdallah and [French Foreign Minister Laurent] Fabius sign two [aid] agreements totaling 24 million Euros"
"Yesterday [Aug. 24, 2013] the Palestinian government and the French government signed two agreements in Ramallah according to which Paris will provide the PA with financial aid of close to €24,000,000...
The value of the two aid agreements is €23,750,000 of which €9,000,000 are direct aid to the Palestinian treasury and €14,750,000 are for a solid waste treatment project in the Gaza Strip. [PA Prime Minister] Hamdallah expressed his appreciation of the aid provided by the Government of France to the Palestinian budget, the state institutions and our people's just cause."

[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 25, 2013]

"[PA] Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Karake said that the [Palestinian] leadership is paying a great deal of attention [to the prisoners' issue] and actively dealing with the Israeli side, for the urgent release of the sick prisoners... During his visit to released prisoners Khaled Asakra from Bethlehem, who was released recently and sat in [different] prisons for 22 years, and Jamil Al-Natsheh from Hebron, who sat in [different] prisons for 21 years, Karake said that the release of the sick [prisoners] has become a priority, especially in light of the fact that there are sick [prisoners] in the prisons whose lives are in danger: [Prisoners] sick with cancer, malignant tumors, heart diseases, paralysis and disabilities."
Caption under photo (which did not show the released terrorist): "Karake greets released prisoner Khaled Asakra and prisoner Al-Taj."

[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 20, 2013]

Jamil Al-Natsheh - member of Hamas' military wing, arrested in 1992 for involvement in terror attacks carried out in Hebron. He was sentenced to 21 years in prison and released in 2013.

Muhammad Al-Taj - was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was released due to medical reasons after serving two thirds of his prison term. It has not been possible to verify the crime for which Al-Taj was imprisoned.

Headline: "A ceremony in appreciation of Bethlehem's most veteran released prisoner"
"Bethlehem District Governor Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel called on the Palestinian prisoners to continue their struggle, to unite ranks and restore national unity, until the Presidential, Parliamentary and National Council elections are held.
He said: 'The prisoners' determination and resolve in the prisons charge us with a new responsibility, to follow in the footsteps of those who sacrificed for freedom and independence,' and added: 'Perhaps the heroes' resolve will teach us all a lesson in resolve and giving.' This was said during the ceremony organized yesterday [Aug. 22, 2013] by the Prisoners' and Released Prisoners' Association in the Al-Finiq hall in the Deheisheh refugee camp to honor Bethlehem's most veteran released prisoner Khaled Asakra, who served 23 years in the occupation's prisons.
On his part, Deputy Minister of Prisoners' and Released Prisoners' Affairs Ziad Abu Ein emphasized: 'Freedom is the most precious thing a person possesses and there is no alternative but for the fighter, who sacrificed himself and his future and suffered greatly behind prison bars, to return to his family and people.'
Likewise, he expressed his hope that the remaining stages of veteran prisoners [releases] would be carried out shortly and would also include the prisoners from Jerusalem and the interior (i.e., Israel).
In addition he called on the UN and the General Assembly to assume responsibility and prevent the occupation from continuing to oppress of the prisoners.
[PA] Parliament member Muhammad Al-Laham sent greetings in the name of the Fatah faction in Parliament to the most veteran released prisoner of the Bethlehem district and described the released [prisoners] as great heroes."

[Al-Ayyam, Aug. 23, 2013]

PA TV newsreader: "The [Palestinian] Prisoners' and Released Prisoners' Association organized a ceremony in Bethlehem to mark the release of released prisoner Khaled Asakra from the occupation's prisons after 23 years."

Among those present at the event: Deputy Minister of Prisoners' and Released Prisoners' Affairs Ziad Abu Ein, Bethlehem District Governor Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel, and the mother of terrorist prisoner Issa Abd Rabbo.

Deputy Minister of Prisoners' and Released Prisoners' Affairs Ziad Abu Ein: "We rejoice in their freedom, but we still await the grand celebration, when we'll see them, as President Mahmoud Abbas has promised: That not a single prisoner will remain behind bars. This is an oath, this is a commitment and this is a promise."

The released murderer Asakra is seen tearing down a model of a prison.

PA TV reporter: "This ceremony was held in appreciation of the prisoners' sacrifice and out of commitment to mobilize support for them. The highlight [of the event] was a performance by prisoner Asakra who broke the walls of the Ashkelon prison (i.e., the released prisoner tore down a model of the prison at the event), the last prison he had left. He breathed in freedom and returned to his village from which he had been absent for a long time."

Terrorist Khaled Asakra: "This is a national celebration and a genuine Palestinian achievement, the likes of which hasn't been [seen] for years. This agreement (i.e., Israel's release of prisoners, a PA precondition for renewing negotiations) was good, it included everyone, and no one was expelled from their home. Praise Allah, everyone will return to their homes. I would like to say to anyone who wants to challenge this agreement, that this is the first time since [the] Oslo [Accords] that people are released who according to Israel's definition have blood on their hands, and we thank the Palestinian leadership for this. I believe this is a great achievement."

[Official PA TV, Aug. 23, 2013]

Issa Abd Rabbo - On October 22, 1984, Issa Abd Rabbo killed two Israeli university students, Ron Levi and Revital Seri, who were hiking south of Jerusalem. At gun point he tied them up, put bags over their heads and then shot and murdered both. He is serving two life sentences in an Israeli prison.

"The Story of the Hero's Operation (i.e., terror attack) - Khaled Asakra - Abu Muhammad - by released prisoner Raafat Hamdouna"
"The Gulf War broke out between Baghdad and a coalition made up of the Western world, Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. During the war, land, air and naval forces used all kinds of weapons of [mass] destruction against Iraq's women and children. They carried out massacre after massacre, burned everything, demolished bridges and houses, and killed women, children and elderly people. The Palestinian people were furious over what was being done to their brothers in Iraq...
The hero [Khaled Asakra] decided to stand beside his brothers in a heroic operation (i.e., terror attack) that would convey the Palestinian people's regrets to the women, children and elderly people of Iraq, for its inability to assist, and with this he avenged the blood of the Iraqi Martyrs (Shahids).
Abu Muhammad [Khaled Asakra] left his home in Al-Ubeidiya in April 1991, immediately after the Gulf War ended, and went to work at a Bethlehem tourist restaurant. While he was at work, a 45 year-old French tourist entered the restaurant. Khaled took a knife from the kitchen and waited for his chance. He was 19. Suddenly, the tourist went down to wash her hands after the meal. Khaled went in after her and stabbed her several times in her back and chest until she fell to the ground, a bleeding corpse. The hero fled the place and was shortly arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment."

[The Prisoners' Center for Studies, March 9, 2007, www.alasra.ps]

Khaled Asakra – a Fatah member who murdered 64 year-old French tourist Annie Ley (April 29, 1991). He was sentenced to life in prison but was released in August 2013 as one of 104 terrorists whom Israel agreed to release, which was the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.